Taroko Gorge, Taiwan

One of Taiwan’s most famous sights, Taroko Gorge was carved into the marble landscape by the Liwu River, which leads out into the Pacific Ocean. Narrow roads take visitors along the edges of the gorge and a number of bridges span it, including the red Bridge of 100 Lions.

Lake Mashu, Japan

Hokkaido’s Lake Mashu is the clearest lake in the world, located within a potentially active volcanic caldera. It’s surrounded by crater walls 660 feet high and is transparent down to 136 feet. The lake is often obscured by fog.

Jeju Island & Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak, South Korea

Jeju Island, also known as Jejudo, is a volcanic island off the coast of South Korea’s mainland. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it’s covered in lush green grasses and a number of dormant volcanoes including Hallasan, South Korea’s tallest mountain, and Seongsan Ilchulbong, a bowl-like crater. Jeju Island is also home to a large system of lava tubes, empty caves formed by lava flow.

Lake Hovsgol & the Khoridol Saridag Mountains, Mongolia

One of East Asia’s largest waterfalls, China’s Huangguoshu is located within the Huangghuoshu Waterfall National park in Anshun, Guizhou province. There are a number of viewing areas offering various angles of this 255-foot-high, 331-foot-wide waterfall, as well as smaller waterfalls in the park.

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, China

Is the Wulingyan Scenic Area of Zhangjiajie East Asia’s most beautiful sight? These gravity-defying pillars were the inspiration for the surreal landscapes of the movie ‘Avatar’. The 3,544-foot-tall Souther Sky Column has officially been renamed ‘Avatar Hallelujah Mountain’ in honor of the movie. Centuries of erosion caused by the expansion of ice in the winter have carved out the pillars that make this park so famous.